The Little Dipper

If you can find Polaris, you can find the Little Dipper in the constellation Ursa Minor. As shown in the chart below, Polaris marks the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper.


Finding the Little Dipper in the city can be a challenge. Most of its seven stars are rather faint. Here are the Little Dipper and Big Dipper with outlines drawn. The Little Dipper is on the right.

Here they are without the lines. Again, the Little Dipper is on the right.

This is what they look like from most big cities.

As you can see, only three of the Little Dipper's stars are visible -- Polaris and the two stars at the front of the bowl. The shape no longer looks familiar. Light pollution makes a big difference in what you can see in the sky.